Cell-culture and polymer constructs

Abstract

Cells grown on a microcarrier are separated from the microcarrier by enzymatically digesting the microcarrier. More specifically, chondrocytes may be grown on dextran microcarrier beadlets and then the beadlets digested using dextranase to separate the chondrocytes from the carrier. Cells can also be grown on chitosan microcarriers to be used for implantation. In addition, cells can be grown on polysaccharide polymers to be used as implant devices. Various polymers serve as scaffolds for cells to be used for implantation. The polymers can be used for cell culture as well as for preparing scaffolds useful for tissue replacement such as cartilage tissue.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A surgical procedure wherein chondrocytes are taken from a patient and rapidly multiplied and transplanted into said patient for cartilage repair, comprising the steps of: 
       1) obtaining cartilage tissue from knee cartilage, nasal septal cartilage, ear cartilage or costo-chondral cartilage of a patient,  
       2) treating said cartilage to obtain chondrocytes therefrom,  
       3) culturing the chondrocytes to obtain an adequate sample of chondrocytes,  
       4) plating and growing the chondrocytes onto a scaffold, and  
       5) surgically implanting the chondrocyte bearing scaffold into said patient, wherein the entire surgical procedure is carried out expeditiously with good quality chondrocytes being returned to the patient and the scaffold being reabsorbed leaving in place viable chondrocytes, wherein the scaffold is prepared by crosslinking a polysaccharide with a polyamine, thereby forming a crosslinked polysaccharide derivative.  
     
     
       2. The surgical procedure of  claim 1  wherein the cartilage obtained is nasal septal cartilage. 
     
     
       3. The surgical procedure of  claim 1  wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of arabinogalactan and oxidized arabinogalactan, and the polyamine is selected from the group consisting of glutamic acid, albumin, gelatin and lysine. 
     
     
       4. The surgical procedure of  claim 1  wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of dextran, cellulose, arabinogalactan, pollulan and amylose. 
     
     
       5. The surgical procedure of  claim 1  wherein the polysaccharide used to prepare the crosslinked polysaccharide derivative is a member selected from the group consisting of dextran, arabinogalactan, pollulan, cellulose and amylose; with the polysaccharide derivative being crosslinked by a polyamine compound selected from the group consisting of lysine, ethylenediamine, alkylenediamine, phenylenediamine, xylenediamine, polyethylenimine, gelatin, albumin, fibrinogen and                    
     
     
       6. The surgical procedure of  claim 1  wherein the scaffold used for cartilage repair comprises a polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of dextran, arabinogalactan, pollulan, cellulose and amylose crosslinked by a polyamine compound selected from the group consisting of lysine, ethylenediamine, alkylenediamine, phenylenediamine, xylenediamine, polyethylenimine, gelatin, albumin, fibrinogen and                    
     
     
       7. The surgical procedure of  claim 1  wherein the scaffold growing chondrocytes thereon is surgically implanted into the knee, head or neck area.